Wednesday, June 13, 2012

Northwest Arkansas TV stations finally noticing that Fayetteville City Council approved zoning of the former sale-barn property that allowed 4-story student apartments to be built next to the Fayetteville National Cemetery, one of the few such facilities in the U.S. to listed as a National Shrine

Please visit KNWA channel 29 Web site or watch for a rerun of a well-done segment on the subject early in the morning. The reporter interview Ron Butler, president of the Regional National Cemetery Improvement Corporation and Jeremy Pate of the Fayetteville Planning Department and at least one outraged veteran. Why didn't our local TV stations pick up this story a year ago and alert the public to the second attempt by the Campus Crest corporation to get approval of this project? We have had information online on the subject for several years now, and there were council meetings and planning meetings etc. on the subject. Just a bit late, but at least the truth will be told, after the fact. But MAYBE this will help some people who made bad decisions to rethink mistakes of the past and think more before pushing bad projects into neighborhoods. Direct link to video online.

Saturday, June 2, 2012

Yard sale on S. Hill Avenue to replace June meeting of Regional National Cemetery Improvement Corporation


To Gloria Bailey, Ron Butler, Randolph Charette, Harold Crivello, Jim and Sharon Glover, Jeremy Johns, Jake Lamkins, Melissa Lee, Cliff Madewell, Peggy McClain, Roger McClain, Ginger Middleton, Richard Richards, Josh Sakon, Budd Saunders, Aubrey Shepherd, Lorna Sterrett, Wes Stites, Beverley Swaim, Chris Turner, Cindy Whiteaker, Kate Williams, Merle Williams
 
THERE WILL NOT BE A MEETING AT THE AMERICAN LEGION POST IN JUNE DUE TO THE YARD SALE ON JUNE 8 AND 9. MEMBERS ARE ASKED TO SHOW UP AT THE HOUSE AT 1098 SO. HILL AVENUE TO HELP WITH THE YARD SALE. THANK YOU!
 
 
REGIONAL NATIONAL CEMETERY IMPROVEMENT CORPORATION
P.O. BOX 4221
FAYETTEVILLE, ARKANSAS 72702

Minutes from the May 12, 2012, Meeting

The meeting was called to order at 10:30 a.m. by President Ron Butler. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited. Ron offered the prayer.
 
Board members present were: Ron Butler, Merle Williams, Lorna Sterrett, Jake Lamkins, Peggy McClain, Roger McClain, Virginia Middleton, Budd Saunders, Aubrey Shepherd, and Beverley Swaim. Board members absent were: Harold Crivello and Wes Stites. Other RNCIC members present: Jim Glover. Visitors present: Kathy Potter (Ron’s daughter) and Brenda Austin.
 
Minutes of the April meeting were presented. Peggy made the motion to accept the minutes as written, it was seconded by Jake, and the vote was unanimous. The April 30, 2012, Financial Statement was presented with an ending balance of $2,353.78. Jake made the motion to accept the financial statement as written, it was seconded by Roger, and the vote was unanimous.
 
WEB REPORT
Jake reported 27 visits during the past month. Jake posted information on the upcoming Yard Sale and the availability of the house for sale at 1098 So. Hill Ave. both on the web site and on Facebook.
 
PUBLICITY
Merle gave a suggested placement for the yard sale signs. Brenda Austin, our visitor, offered to give signs from her political campaign for the RNCIC to use. Peggy offered to get the information on the signs. The signs will be put out by 6:30 on Friday morning, June 8.
 
5K RACE
Nothing to report.
 
OLD BUSINESS
Details for the yard sale were discussed. Merle will take care of the signs, check out free advertising in the newspaper and the Star Shopper. The sale will run on Friday, June 8, and Saturday, June 9, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on both days. Remaining items will be donated to charity. Almost all RNCIC members volunteered to help with the sale between the two days. Beverley requested newspaper and plastic bags for packing up purchases. Donation forms are available for people donating items to the sale.
 
Jake and Peggy presented the newly revised brochure. Jake made a motion to accept the brochure, it was seconded by Budd, and the vote was unanimous. Lorna will see that ample copies are run for distribution at the Memorial Day ceremony and at the yard sale. Thanks were expressed to Jake and Peggy for updating the brochure.
 
Merle is preparing a draft letter for solicitation of funds from organizations. Peggy has a list of over 100 Wal-Mart vendors and others to be used for mailings.
 
A Draft for a Future Property Acquisition Plan to initiate a direction of our movement for future land purchases, and Fund Raising plans were tabled until the fall.
 
Ron has submitted a letter to Carolyn Harrison with the VA in Washington D.C. inquiring if the VA would consider purchasing Lot #7 to be used for the cemetery director’s use in the future and thus securing that lot for the Cemetery. Nothing has been heard in reply.
 
Ron has had the opportunity to visit with the renter of the house on Lot #19 and explain our work to him. Ron gave him a brochure to pass on to the owner of the property and house.
 
Corrections will need to be made to the Memorial Day program regarding RNCIC information. These corrections will be passed on to Raymond Jones.
 
NEW BUSINESS
There was no new business to be discussed.
 
The meeting was adjourned at 11:30. If members have any items to be discussed at next month’s meeting, please notify Ron Butler so they may be placed on the agenda.
 
Respectfully submitted,
Lorna Sterrett, Secretary
 
THERE WILL NOT BE A MEETING AT THE AMERICAN LEGION POST IN JUNE DUE TO THE YARD SALE ON JUNE 8 AND 9. MEMBERS ARE ASKED TO SHOW UP AT THE HOUSE AT 1098 SO. HILL AVENUE TO HELP WITH THE YARD SALE. THANK YOU!